The Asian Writer New Writing Competition is for: poems of up to 40 lines, max of three; fiction of up to 2,500 words, max of three. It is particularly aimed at encouraging British Asian writers. All short listed entries will be published on our blog, with the winning entries published on our website and in the new Annual. Free entry, open to all, for an entry form visit www.theasianwriter.co.uk Closing date: 12th December 2008 Full details on the website.

Mohammed Hanif, author of The Case of the Exploding Mangoes has been longlisted for the Guardian First Book Award 2008.
In total, four novels, four non-fiction books, a collection of short stories and a book of poetry have made the cut from a selection of 170 books.
The award is unique for rewarding new writing across fiction and non-fiction and for being judged by a panel and readers from Waterstone’s book groups.
The shortlist of five will be announced in November and the overall winner in December. The winner will receive £10,000
Hanif was …

First time novelist, Aravind Adiga and Amitav Ghosh have been shortlisted for The Man Booker Prize.
Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger, is the story of Balram Halwai who dreams of escaping his life as a teashop worker turned chauffeur. Yet when his chance finally arrives and his eyes are opened to the revelatory city of New Delhi, Balram becomes caught between his instinct to be a loyal son and servant and his desire to better himself.  As he passes through two different Indias on his journey from the darkness of village …